Process of and apparatus for distilling crude oil and other hydrocarbons.



Afr. s. P.1.'v0N GRoELmG.- PROCESS 0F AND APPARATUS FOR DISTILLINGCRUDLOIL AND OTHER HYDROCARBONS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 23| 41915.

Patented Feb. 18, 1919,.

2 sains-sneer l.

Tr H

wilt neoo A. F. s. P. 1. voN GROELING. PRUCESS 0F AND APPARATUS FOR DISTILL'ING CRUDE OII. AND yOTHER HYDRUCARBONS.

APPLICATION 4FILED APR. 23.`I9l5.

wwwa. Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

2 swears-salir 2.

` von GRoELIN'G,`a subject of the, Emperor of A'LBRECHT RIEDRICH GEORG Pani. JOSEF von GROELIVNG, or coFrEYvILLE, KANSAS,

ASSIG'NOIB. T0 ATLAS PROCESS COMPANY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N'. Y., A CORIYOBATION':

yor' New Yoan.

mensa or AND urm'rus For. DIs'rILLING cnUDE on; aNnorHEn HYnnocAnBoNs.'

To 21M lwhom z'tfmay-concern:

. Be it known that I, ALBRECHTF. G. P. J.

Austria, and 'a resident of Coii'eyville, in the county of Montgomery and State of Kansas, have lnvented a certain new and useful Process -of'and Apparatus for Distilling Crude following is ,a specification.

This invention relates to processes and (')il and other Hydrocarbons, of which theapparatus--`for distilling crude oil and other hydrocarbons; and itcomprises, briefly, as a process, a processof 'distilling such oils by heating part of the same under pressure andutilizing the highly heated oil under pressure for combining with the oi'l in the still by introducing the same 4through a pressurev reducing or expansion valve so that the .highly heatcdoilupon reduction in pressure is vaporized and acts upon the oil in thc still,'or for both heating the still and for combining with the oil therein; it also comprises such a process in which the oil flow- .ing tothe still and the'distil'latc'therefrom are brought intov heat interchan'ging relation with each other in opposite directions whereby the distillate is cooled and con#l densed'vand the oil preheated and freed from its vmore volatile constituents before-reaching 'fhe still; and as an apparatusgit comprises a still provided with'an inlet for the oil tobe distilled and an outlet. for the dis.y tillate therefrom, said still having therein -heating coils arranged between trays or bafies forming separatel chambers. a oilci: for heating part of the oil under pressure, means for introducing oil from the still into Vthe boiler and .for circulating the heated oil from the boiler through the heatin coil, and means including a pressure repucing valve or expansion valve for introducing part of the-heated oil into the still; it also comprises certain novel combinations of `such apparatus with dephlegmators, pre-v heaters, etc., whereby the heat of the still .distillate is utilized .in preheating the oil with resulting` advantageand economy; and

it further comprises certain novel steps and combination of steps of the process, andtcery Ytain novel combinations and'arrangements -of the apparatus; all as more fully hereinafter setffortli andas claimed. In the distillation, of crude oils 1t 1s im `Specification. of Letters 'Patent appunti@ med April 2s, 1915. serial m. 23.411.

Patent-.eg renie, 1919.

portant that the oil should be separated into certain more or less distinct fractions. In some cases the -more volatile petrol or gasolene,or even kerosene.. fractions only are removed, leaving'thefueloil which mayor may lnot be lfurther separated@ Again it may be desirable to carry out the fractional-1 tion more completely and separate the aoil into further fractions, and. particularly to breakup the heavier' oils into the morevaluable lighter fractions. mien'treating crude oil from the lubricating oil, etc.

It is ari object of the presentA invention to simplify the distillation of such oils, and to d 'obtainvin a single apparatus and with a continuous process an cflicient and inexpensive separationA of the oil, and certain valuable products. It isa further .ob]cct of the 1nvolition tontilize the heat of the main Still Y distillate for prcheatingl the crude oil and for lseparating therefrom its' more volatile constituents. so that the complete process` can be effected by the heat-,supplied to the main boiler and still` andv so that there will4 be a gradual increase in temperature of the oil entering the apparatus and-aprogressive -frzwtionationthereof, and also sothat there will bo .a progressive condensation of the i distillate. and separation thereof into the desired fractions, the temperature vof the apparat-us being gradually increased or de'- creased in successive stages ofA the-process and apparatus from the temperature of the crude oil and condensed distillate to the intense heat of the boiler and still. Y Other objects of the invention will appear from the following more detailed description.

I will now proceed to describe my inven-A tion more in detail with particular reference to -the accompanying drawings illustrative of certain embodiments of the apparatus of theinvention, in which the novel process of theinvention can be practised, it lbeing intended and understood that the invention wil-1 be illustrated by, but is not limited to,

vthe speciiicembodiments thereof soillusshows more or less diagrammatically a partial elevation and partial vertical section of apparatus embodying my invention; and Fig. 2 shows a. plan view of tlie apparatus shown in Fig. l and also 'shows similarly other boilers, stills, dephlegmators, ete., arranged to coperate with the first series of apparatus.

This apparatus comprises a boiler A arranged-toV be suitably heated `to the desired temperature by any suitable heating means (not shown) and constructed to withstand the pressure to which the oil within vit may be subjected. The still in which the main distillation is eected is illustrated at B.

and a'series of dephlegmators (consisting of two dephlegmators in the particular construction shown) are 'llnstiated at yC and C', these dephlegmators being so connected with the still B that the distillate from the top of the still is led first to the bottom of the deplilegmator C in which is arranged a sie baflie chamber K for separating heavier particles, thence up through the dephlegmator C, from the top thereof to the bottom of the dephlegmator Cf, from the top of which the uncondensed distillate is led to a condensing coil H, and is condensed therein and collected as it flows therefrom. A preheater.

is shownat D, arranged to be heated ,by a

. coil'W which receives the' residue from the Vat vto

bottom of the 'still B; such residue passing from the coil W to the cooler G and finally to the residue tank F. The crude' oil is fed into the preliminary heater D through the inlet pipe y, this feed being eected, pref' erably continuously, fby a pumpl or in any suitable manner. y From the preliminary heater'the oil overflows Athrough the pipe y to the jacket of the dephlegmator C; from which jacket it liows by'the pipe y2, leading from near the bottom of the jacket, to the jacket ofthe dephlegmator C, from which it flows -through Ithe pipe ya and the spray nozzles gf* into the top of' the still B. A suit-v able condenser Mis provided to condense the vapor produced in preheater D, and other suitable condensers L and L areprovided for condensin the vaporv producedy in the' Suit' able coolers J and J are also provided for jackets of dep legmators C and C.

cooling the liquid escaping from the lower levels of the dephleg'mators C and C respectively. Return pipes d andd connect the bottoms of the dephlegmating columns C kand C respectively with the vstill'B, the

return pipe d entering near 'the bottom of. the still and the return ipe d entering at an intermediate' point.v nm'ps N? and lTa are provided in these return lines d and d to force the residues in these dep hlegmators into the still. From tlie bottom of the still B apipe connection c'leads to a pump N' which pumps the oil under pressure intov the boiler ..A, this pump beingconstructed and.

incarica arranged vto;"maintain the desired predetermined pressure within the boiler. t Also conf .nected with the boiler A is a pipe a leading 'from the bottom of the boiler to ay pum N and a pipe am leading Vfrom the Vpump to a series of coils a', a2, as, etc., from whichV the pipe a* leads back to-the top of the boiler. Between the pipe a and the bottoni of the still B -is a connection a 'havingl therein a suitable pressure 'reducing or expansion valve b by means of which thev high pressure oil in the-pipe a can be introduced at aA lower pressure into thefbottom of the still. 'The coils a', a?, etc-,arearranlged within the still between perforatedftrays or ballles m1. m2,' ai, etc., which divide the central part of the still into separate chambers, each containing one of the heating coils. lt will be understood that suitableyalves ,such as 3-,-l2 inclusive are provided where desired forcontrolling the'iow lof the oil or of tlie'distillate and for maintainingtl'ie desired pressure conditions within tl yapparatus, thus the outlet orthe distill te from the top of the still B may be provided with a regulating or reducing valve b; and the' other inlet and outlet connections may be similarly arranged ,to ena'ble` the desired pressure to lbe maintained within the still. A valvedv steam inlet 8, is indicated at the bottom of the still through which steam can be introduced when desired. I

The operation of the apparatus 'above de' scribed, and the process as practised therein will now be described. vAssuming.that'tlie apparatus is to `be .started and that it does not contain any .ol, the crude oil will be pumped continuously through the inlet y to vthe preliminary-heater D from which it will and pipe 1 into the boiler 4A until the del;

sired level is obtained thereinyin practice, the boiler A is lilled, nearly or completely.

ioa

drips 'The boiler A is then heated, and since there. v

is no outflow while'the oil is being pumped n in, (until out-How through valve b'starts, as hereinafter described, at whichl time il is pumpedv into the boiler through pump N to maintain the maintained su liquid' condition even when heated'considerably above its boiling point'fat atmospheric may be heated to 'a cracking temperature, and. yet maintained in that-boilerin a liquid condition, owing to absence of vapor space in the boiler inf lwhich that bil may vaporze The l'irssure) a pressurelwill be cient Vto keep the "oil in a iso 126 pressure. In'this way.y the oil in .the boiler 1 lower pressure within the still. Accordingly,

when the apparatus is in continuous operation, a discharge of the heated oil. from the high temperature and pressure of the boiler A and of the pipes (L and a will be continuously effected through the reducing valve' b, While at -the saine time circulation of the highly heated and high pressure oilwill be effected i amount.

from the boiler through the heating coils a1', u?, etc., arranged in the still-B. The pressure ,within the boiler will be maintained auto# iuatically by means of the pump N which is conti-oiled by an automatic pressure-control ler I controlling supply of steam through pipe 2 to this pump in such manner thaty it u'ill operate to pump oil into the boiler or into the pipe system a as soon as the pressureI within'tlie boiler falls below a predetermined advantageously such that-the oil will be maintained in a liqiiidstate and distillation the oil in the bottoiiiof the still, particularly the more volatile constituents. If the oil in or vaporization prevented, notwithstanding the temperature to which that oil Imay have been raised; and in addition itis preferable that the oil fill the boiler sub pletely, so that there may be no space therein in which .vapor may form. The temperature of the oil will accordingly correspond to this pressure, and this temperature vmay be eon` siderably higher than that Within vthe still, sothat when the oil is discharged through the reducing valve vb, the reduction in pressure as the oil' passes from valve b into the still will result in converting a greater or 4less amount of this oil into vapor, which vapor will itself rise in the still and will tend to vaporize and carry with it more or less `ot" the boiler has been heated to cracking temperature, as may be the case, and vh-as remained at suchtemperature for the time required for cracking, then upon the discharge of the .oil from' pipe a, into the still, the

` vapors and the descending liquid will be4 'several 'fractions into which( the oil has been cracked will evaporate moreor :less successlvely. The vapors r1s1n 1n the still will meet" the 'dotvuflowing-oi heating'it.' dissolving 1t, combining with it` dephleg-v mating it, and distilling it. 1 The rising intimately intermingled by the sieve-like baiiles m1, m2, ma, etc.,l and the mixture will be further heated and vaporized by the heating coils arranged inthe chambers between vthe The pressure within the boiler is stantially com-l bailes. The-result of the action takin place Athose mechanically carried along are separated and caused to settle at the bottom in the form of liquid which is returned by the return-pipe d to the `still. .From the separator l( the vapors pass up through the main eoliinin C Where-they are in part condensed by thccooling action of the surrounding oil, the condensed distillate being drawn off from the lower levels to the condenser J. From the top of-the column C the vapors pass through the bottom of the column Cfwhere a further separating and dephlegmating action takes place. From the bottom of this .90 column the condensed liquid can be either returned to an intermediate chamber of the still B or led to the .condenser J', suitable regulating valves 13 and 14 being provided for regulating such How. From vthe top of se the column C the uneondensed vapors pass to thecoudenser H.' During the passage of in which columns the gases are baiiied and madeV to take a circuitous path, they give u y heat to the surrounding incoming oil whic is thereby preheated. It will thus be seen that the distillate is progressively` cooled andl condensed while the incomingoihxiowing in the opposite direction, is progressively 106.

heated, the incoming oil thus actingas a condenser for the distillate, andthe distillate acting to prcheat-the incomingoil. The iny coming oil will be first preliminarily heated in the preheater I) by the residue from the 1.10

bottom of the still, and willthen be further and successively heated inthe jackets of the dephlegmators. "I do not limit myself to any t" particular number ofl dephlegmators in the series; a greater or less number may be used, and the degree offractionation obtained will depend in large measure, on the number of such dephlegmators used. Moreover. prelieating of the crude oil, in preheater D and in the jackets of the dephlegmators, and the preliminary disti lation of the more volatile constituents from` he incoming oil, is effected Y without any application of heat other thanthe heat ofthe distillata From the tops of the various preheaters the more volatile frac- 125 tions or constituents ofthe crude oil will be progressively removed, a preliminary fractionation of the crude .oil being thus eected, with the result that the crude oil is topped or separated from the more volatile by-prod- 18,0

ucts which-form in themselvesr valuable con? stituents of theoil, but-vyhich are not desired'l in oil used for fuelv and other purposes. From thevarious condensers the products obtained can be led to any suitable retainers or storage receptacles. It will beunder'stood that the various condensers and coolers can bc cooled by crude, oil as well as by water,

and that the crude oil can'be thereby further duced at the top, and in which itis heated and further fractionated o r treated -in much the same manner as is the oil'in the still B.v

A series of such stills, B, B, B", etc., (Fig. 2) each havin its appropriate dephlegmators 0 C', or f, Cap', or C", Cb', etc., can be` connected together so that all fractions fromf* the highest to the lowest, or from the lightest to the heaviest, can be obtained from a single apparatus, suitable pump connections bengmade for eiecting the circulation from each still into the next and for removing from eachstill the various fractions formed therein. vWhen a plurality of Such stills are used together, each may have its 'separate boiler, A, Aa, Ab, etc.,maintained under. the necessary heat and pressure, and operated in a lmanner already described. With ,su'cha series, the crude oil can be treated to obtain ,from it all its various fractions including the heavy lubricating oil and the pitchy residue.

Wherey it is desired to use the apparatus' for cracking purposes, the pressure Within the still B can be increased 'by providing the outlets therefrom with suitable regulating valves such as 7, 3 and 4, and by introducing the oil therein underA pressure. ln such casethe'pressure and temperature of the boiler A may advantageously be higher-than that 'of the still so that the heated oil from the boiler can still be expanded through. the valve b and vaporized Within the still, and so that the heating coils Within the stillv Will still exert the desired, heating action.' A most intimate intermingling of the rising vapors and of the descending liquid is eectcoils, and the rising vapors act not only to vaporize the oil but they combine within it i land favorably influence the cracking process. The expansion of the high pressure 'and temperaturev gases into the still is also advantageous in the cracking process, since' the ,relieving of the pressure, and the conversion of the liquid into 'a vapor at a hightemperature, is advantageous'in' such process.

Y ce# The process and 4apparatus of the present 'the crude' oil which has already been heated ed as they pass voverthe baies and-,heating i 'dephlegmators and the process as a Whole nacimos .invention are of particular value Where it is 'desired to separate from cru'de oil the mam fuel fraction from the more .volatile con-r stituents onthe one hand, and from, the heavier residuesonthe other; The process is alsol advantageous lfor obtaining a larger yieldof the liquid lfuel. It will be understood'that the different fractions obtained can ,be further purified/and fractionated.- Where the .crude oils contain impurities such as sulfur, these will require subsequent purification. The processand apparatus of the present inventionenable afrough separav tion of the crude oil to be advantageously effected by the application or' heat at one point only and by the utilization of the heat of the main distillate for preheating the linflovvingzcrude oil. The arrangement is such Y that the'rhottest distillate is used for heating by the cooler distillate, and vice versa. When desired superheatedsteam can be introduced atthe bottom of the still through pipe s in additionto petroleum vapors through ipe ay. Such addition of steam is desirab e in 'some cases to sweeten the benzin or other fraction. Thel introduction of the petroleum -vapors however is particu` l'arly advantageous in the operation of the v process Within. the still since such vapors 95 ac't` chemically as Well as mechanically and tend tov split up the higher hydrocarbons molecules With `increased .yield of the more valuable lighter fractions. ln some cases it may be advantageous to operate the differ: ent condensing or dephlegmating columns at` progressively decreasing pressures, reducing valves b2, bs, ctc., being provided. Also when a plurality ofstills are used, in AWhich the oil is successively treated, the temperature can be progressively raised, and different pressures can be maintained corresponding to the temperature in eachv apparatus. Since each of these vessels or stills may operate'independently of the others, While still coperating in the complete apparatus and process, a vacuum y)can be used With some of the stills in order to decrease the pressure therein, such decrease in pressure resulting in a larger diiierencein pressure between the oil in the boiler and the still into which the oil is expanded, and a greater tendency toward vaporization of the expanded oil. ltfvvill be understood also that-l a vacuum can be maintained through the stills and sures controlled.

- From the foregoing description it will be seen that the process and apparatus of the present invention enable a simple and 'mexitc 'memes -eli'ected, either to obtain therefrom .a few fractions onl such as the fuel oil separated from the lighter -hydrocarbons and the heavier illummating oil, or to obtain a comglete separation of the crude oil into all the esired fractions, the number of dephlegmators and condensers and preheaters being varied Within rather large limits as may be desired,` and suitable air condensers .being used when desired for separating the lubricating oils into diiierent fractions. It will also be seen that heating of the oil is eii'ected at only one point and that the heat for V the remamin operations is derivedfrom the distilled oils themselves. thus simple and inexpensive in operation, and readily adapted to the fractionation and separation of crude oils Widely differing in properties.

Variations and modifications can be made in the process and apparatus as described and illustrated Without departing from the spirit and sco e ofthe invention, as set forth in the fol owing claims.

rlhis invention has for its object to simplify as faras possible the process andthe apparatus for the distillationy purposesl proper, and at the same 'time to desi the -apparatusin such a manner that the heat supplied to the quantity of the-product to be distilled, can be recovered as far as'` possible for the distillation purpose itself and for the preliminary heating of the material,

' f that is to say, in such a Way that thev great- I est economy may be combined With the lowest possible cost of installation. What I claim isz-y i 1. The process of distilling crude oil and other hydrocarbons which comprises heat- 40 ing 'aportion of the oil under pressure, and

reducing the pressure of the oil and -introducing such O11 into the oil to be distilled,

ywhereby such oil` is vaporized upon reduction of pressure andthe distillation thereby effected. L

2. The process of distilllng crude oil and other hydrocarbons which comprisestheating' a portion of the oil aboveits nonnalboilin-g point and at a pressure sufficient to malntain 50 the oil in a liquid state,"and reducing the pressure of the oil and introducing such oil j into the oil to be distilled, whereby such oil is vaporized upon reduction ofv pressureand the distillation thereby el'ected.

3. The process of distilling crude oil and other hydrocaubonswhich comprises heating Yaportion ofthe oil of relatively high boiling point under pressure above its normal' boillng point and reducing the pressure of the oil andv introducing such oil into the .oil to be' distilled, Where'by such oi-l is vaporized upon reduction of pressure and the distillation thereby effected.

JIt. The process of distillmg crude oil and 'Y x65 other hydrocarbons which comprises heating Vpressure, circulating such heated oil into heated oil inrto the oil to be distilled With The process is a portion of the oil under pressure, circulating such heated oil into heating relation l with the oil 'to be distilled, and introducing heating relation with the oil to be distilled and returning the same to be further heated and circulated, and introducing part of the reduction of pressure. l 80 6. The process of distilling crude oil and other hydrocarbons Which comprises heating a portion of the oil above-its normal boiling point and at a pressure sufficient to 4maintain the same in a liquid state, circulating such heated oil into heating relation with the oil to be distilled, and introducing part of such heated oil into the oil to be distilled with reduction of pressure. i'

7. The process of distilling'crudc oil and 90l other hydrocarbons which comprises preyheating the oil to be distilled and introducing the same 'near the top of the still, heating a portion of such'oil under pressure and circulating such heated oil into heating re- 95 v circulating such heated oilinto heating revlation with the oil in such still and introducing part of such heated voil into.- the still near its lower end with sure.

9. The process ofdistilling crude oil and other hydrocarbons which comprises. preheating the-oil to be distilled andintrodiic- Y ing the same near the top of the still, draw- 110 ing oi oil from the bottom of the saidstillv and heating the same under pressure to above its normal boiling point, and introducing such heated oil in-to theoil in such still with reduction of pressure. 115

10. The process of distilling crude oiland other* hydrocarbons which comprises preheating the oil to4 be distilled and introducingthe same near the 4top 'of the still,

reduction of pres- 'drawing oli oil from the bottom of said still 120 and heatingr the same under pressure to above its normal bolllng point, circulating suchheated oil in'to heating relation to lthe oil which comprises preheating such oil and removing therefrm the more volatile fractions |by subjecting the same to the heating 4180 'in such still, .and sulbjecting the crude oil to the 1 heating action of the distillate from action of distillates resulting from the sub-1v sequent treatment, introducing the preheated oil'freed vfrom such more ,volatile frac-` tions 'near' the top of a'still, drawing ofrom the-stillapart of the oil therein and heating the vsaine under pressure, circulating suchl heated 'oilinto heating relation with the oil such still'to effect the. removal of the more lvolatile .fractions therefrom.

.12..fl`he process of ldistilling crude oil which comprises preheating such oill and removing therefrom the more volatile frac# tions by subjecting the same tol the hea-ting'action of-distillates` resulting from the subsequent treatment, introducing the preheated'oil freed from such more volatile fractions near the top of a still, drawing 'off from the still apart of the oil therein and heating the same .under pressure, 'in- `troducing such heated oil into. the oil in said still With reduction vof pressure to effect distillation of-the'oil therein, and sub jecting the vcrude oil tothey heating action of the distillate from such still to effect the removal of the more volatile fractions therefrom. v v

13. rlhe process of distilling crude oil which comprises preheating such oil and remov-` ing therefrom the more volatile fractions by subjecting the same to the heating action of distillates resulting fromthe subsequent treatment, introducing the preheated oil f heating the oil to loe` distilled and introducfreed from such more volatile fractions near the top of a still, drawing off from the still ingA the same near the top of the still', baffling and spreading outsuchy oil in its passage down through said still, drawing Voff from thefbottom ofsuch still "a portion ofthe.

oil and heating the same under pressure to aboveits normal boiling point, circulating! y the heated oil intoheating relation With the, oilin such still While bathed and spread out therein, and introducing part of `sucli'hieated oil'with. reduction of pressure int-o the oil inthe vbottom of said still.

15.' rlhe process of distilling crude bil whichl comprises preheating such oil .and removing therefrom' the more volatile-frac tions by subjecting thesame successively to the heating action ofdistillates of progressively lo'Werboiling point resulting from the v oil in such still, circulating ing the .distilled and an outlet for the distillate distilled and an voutlet for the distillate therefrom, a boiler for heating oil under pressure..

subsequent treatment of such oil, introducing the preheated oi-lvfreed from suchf'moref volatile fractionsinearthe top of a still,: drawing off .fromthe bottom of the still a part of the oil therein and heatingthe same 7o under` pressure, introducing part of .the l heated oil into the oil 'inthe bottom Iof such..

a stillwith reduction of pressure,andthere by vaporizing part of the same and (')fjthe` heated oil into heating relation with theT 1.

liquid owing-.down through said stilland the-vapors rising therein, and subjectcrude oil flowing 13o-said stillin successive stages to the action ofthe distillate from such still to effect removal ofthe more volatile fractions therefrom.

1.6. A distilling apparatus comprising a still provided with an inlet for` the oil to be therefrom, a boiler forheating oil under pressure, means'for introducing part of the oil fromsaid .still into said lboiler under pressure, and means including a pressure 're-V ducing 'valvelfoi' introducing the heated oil '9o from said boiler into said still.

17. A'distilling apparatus comprising ,a still providedV Withan inlet for .the oiltoA be distilled and an outlet for the distillate therefrom, a boiler for heating oil under 95 pressure, means for introducing part of the oil`l from said still into said boiler under pressure, means including a pressure reducfing valve for introducing the heat/ed oil from said boiler intosaid still, and means for circulating part of said' heated oil throughl said still to heat and distil the oil therein.

18. A distilling apparatus, comprising a still provided Withy an inlet for the oil to be distilled and an. outlet for the 'distillate therefrom, a boiler for heating oil under pressure, means for introducing part of the oil from said stilli into said boiler under pressure, means including-a pressure'reduc- Y ing val ve for introducing the heated oil No from said boiler' into said still, intermediate perforated partitions Within said still forming4 chambers therebetween, heating coils in said chambers betweenl Saidpartitions and meansy for circulating heated oil fronrsaid boiler through said coils.-

19. A distilling apparatus comprising a' still provided with an 'inlet for the oil to be iis pressure, :means for -intrpducing 4oil from said still into said boilerunderv pressure,

means including a lheating coil for circulating the heated oil under pressure Within said still, and a pipe. connection fronisaidi25 coil to said still having a regulable pressure reducing valve therein l fo'r the introduction of Asaid 'heated .oil into said still at a lower 2o. A. issuing 'apparatusompnsipg a part of such 75 ioo' isa

distilled and an outlet for the distillate therefrom, a boiler for, heating oil under pressure, a pump connected with the bottom of said still and said boiler for feeding oil to said boiler and regulating the pressure therein, a heating coil connected to the boiler and arranged in said still for the circulation therethrough of heated oil, means including a pressure reducing valve connecting said heating coil with the bottom of the boiler for the introduction of the heated oil into said stillat -a lower pressure, and a i still provided" with an inlet for the oil to be distilled and an outlet for the distillate therefrom, means for maintaining said still underpressure,- a boiler for heatmgoil under 'a pressure-greater'than that of said still, means for introducing oil from said still into said boiler under pressure, means including a heating coil for circulating the heated oil' under pressure within said still, and a'pipe connection fromy said coil to, saidT still having a regulable pressure reducing valve therein for the introduction` of said y heated oil into said still at a lower pressure.

22. A- distilling apparatus comprlsing' a still provided with-an inlet for the oil to be distilled and an outlet for the distillate therefrom, a boiler for heating oil under pressure, means for introducing part of the oil from said still into said boiler under pressure, means including a pressure reducf ing valve for Vintroducing the heated oil" from said boiler' into said still, means for circulating part of said heated oil through said still to heat andv distill the oil therein, and means for preheating the oil flowinginto said still bythe distillate therefrom.

23. A distilling. apparatus comprising a still providedwith an inlet for the oilpto be distilled and an outlet for vthe distillate therefrom, 'intermediate perforated partiy ',-tions within said still formingchambers therebetween, heating coils in said chambers between said partitions for the heating medium, a dephlegmator for .subjecting the o il flowing to said still to the heating faction of the distillate therefrom, a return pipe from the bottom of said dephlegmator to said (still, a second dephlegmator for subjecting the oil owing to said first dephlegmator to the heating action. of the vapors from said dephlegmator, and a return pipe from said second dephlegmator to one of the .chambers of said still.

24:. A distilling` apparatus comprisingra still provided with an inletbfor the oil to be distilled and an outlet for the'distillate therefrom, means for heating said'still, a.

series of dephlegmatorsi arranged to condense successive fractions of thedistillate of progressively' lower boiling points', means:

for circulating the oil through said dephlegmators in the reverse direction before reaching the still, 'and means for subjecting the oil tothe heating action'of thestill residue before it reaches the dephlegmators.-

25. The process of distilling crude oil and other hydrocarbons which comprisesiheating a portion of the oil under pressure, reducing the pressure oflthe oil and introducing such oil into the oil to lbe distilled, and commingling heated water vapoi with the oil beingl distilied, whereby such oilis vaporized upon reduction of pressure and distilla' tion is effected in the presence of water vapor.

26. The process of distillingcrudeoil other' hydrocarbons which. comprises heating a -portion of the oil under pressure, reducing the pressure of the oil and introducing such oil into the oil to be distilled, whereby such oil is vaporized upon reduction of preslsure and the; distillation thereby effected, re-

from such pressure reduction, into another body `ofy oil with v resultant 'imparting of latent heat to the second body of'oil and .the distillation thereof.

28. A. process of treating hydrocarbon pils which consists in heating such an oil under pressure and in a` closed and substan- 'tially {illed chamber under cracking conditions, followed by quick reduction of ress e of such oil and introduction o the pr ssure reduced oil, or the vapors resulting from such pressure reduction, into another body fof oil with resultant imparting of latent heat to the second body of oil and the distillation thereof, and collecting and fractionating the resulting vapors.

In testimonyl whereofl have signed'this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' Witnesses:

CLYDE A. KING,

treating hydrocarbon iis 

